Michigan District No. 2
 Fourth Degree
   Dennis L Henderson  Master
 Serving Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo and Lansing Dioceses

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Laws and Rules of the Order Governing the Fourth Degree
of the Knights of Columbus

Article XI Official Section 38
Article XI Color Corps Section 39
Dress for the Color Corps Section 40
Regalia for the Color Corps Section 41
Procedure and Manual for the Sword Section 42

Dress and Regalia Section 38

(a) The official dress for candidates for the Fourth Degree Exemplification shall be black tie, white shirt, black footwear and tuxedo (which may be black or white, depending upon the season and geographical area.)

(b) Regalia
The regalia of the Fourth Degree shall consist of the official dress and social baldric. Cape and chapeau are only required of those members participating in the Color Corps.

Article XI
Color Corps
The Establishment thereof Section 39
 

(a) Assembly may henceforth establish a uniform drill corps with the approval of the Master of the District and such unit shall be known as "Fourth Degree Color Corps of ...... Assembly"

(b) A Color Corps may participate in exemplifications, religious and public functions only on consent of the Master. The Master shall have full control of the Color Corps in his district, except as hereinafter provided and shall be held strictly accountable for such unit.

(c) The Faithful Navigator shall appoint a Commander of the Color Corps of his Assembly.

Dress for the Color Corps Section 40

The dress for the Color Corps or any previously organized uniformed units of the Fourth Degree shall be as determined from time to time by a directive of the Board of Directors. In the absence of such directive the Supreme Master shall have full control of dress requirements.

Regalia for the Color Corps Section 41

(a) The official regalia for the Color Corps shall be a navy type chapeau, cape, service baldric and silver sword. Vice Supreme Masters, masters and former such officers only shall be permitted to bear the gold sword.

(b) The colors to be used with the capes and chapeaus of the Color Corps are as follows:

 

Vice Supreme Master Blue Cape and Chapeau
Master Gold Cape and Chapeau
Faithful Navigator White Cape and Chapeau
District Marshall Green Cape and Chapeau
Assembly Commander Purple Cape and Chapeau
Color Corps Members Red Cape and White Chapeau
(c) The colors worn by Vice Supreme Masters, Masters, and Faithful Navigators may continue to be worn by such officers following their completion of service in that office.

(d) These colors shall be mandatory June 30, 1981.

Procedure and Manual for the Sword Section 42

The procedure and the Manual of the Sword shall be as determined from time to time by a directive from the Board of Directors. In the absence of such directive the Master has full control provided, however, that he first receives approval of such procedure from the Supreme Master.

Knights of Columbus Fourth Color Corps

Hennepin Province

 

Extracted from the Fourth Degree Drill Manual

 Color Corps Authorization

Regalia Official Dress
 

Members

Color Corps - Honor Guards - Color Guards

 

Baldrics

Protocol for the Color Corps

Silent Commands

Jewels

 

Color Corps Authorization

Any assembly may organize and maintain a Fourth Degree color corps under the supervision and direction of the master of the district. Such bodies may participate in installations, exemplifications, religious and public functions and parades, with the consent of the Master.

Regalia Official Dress

Members

The official dress for a member of the Fourth Degree is as follows: In warm climates and during warm months a white dinner jacket may be worn, if done as a unit.

A member serving in the Armed Forces of his country is in proper attire when dressed in Military dress uniform.

A United States Flag pin may be worn on the lapel. A Fourth Degree pin may also be worn on the lapel and It is optional. (it is suggested that if the member wishes to wear it he should have a buttonhole put on his tuxedo) The size shall be the same size as that approved by the Supreme Council.

When a Fourth Degree member attends an official function of the Order where Fourth Degree dress is required, he may wear the jewel of his office around his neck, be it Fourth Degree or Third Degree, together with the Social Baldric.

A former Supreme Director, Past State Deputy, Past Grand Knight, Past Faithful Navigator, Former Vice Supreme Master or Former District Deputy may wear the miniature jewel of these offices, approved by the Supreme Council, on the left breast pocket of his jacket.

A member will wear a jewel around his neck only if he is presently in office.

Color Corps - Honor Guard - Color Guard

The official dress when serving in a color corps, honor guard or color guard are the same as the official dress of a member, with the following differences:

1. Black Chapeau with white plum or the color of the office as set forth below together with the Fourth Degree patch on the right side.

2. Black Cape with red lining or the color of the office as set forth on page 4, together with a Fourth Degree patch on the left shoulder.

3. White gloves.

4. Service Baldric, together with a sword, worn over the coat from the right shoulder to the left hip. When a sword is not permitted for any reason, the Service Baldric shall be worn nevertheless.

5. Color bearers wear a color harness and Service Baldric, but no sword.

6. The same rules apply with reference to wearing jewels of office.

 

Colors for Color Corps

Vice Supreme Master Blue Cape and Chapeau
Master Gold Cape and Chapeau
Faithful Navigator White Cape and Chapeau
District Marshall Green Cape and Chapeau
Assembly Commanders Purple Cape and Chapeau
Color Corps Red Cape and White Chapeau
Former Vice Supreme Masters Blue Cape and Chapeau
Former Masters Gold Cape and Chapeau
Past Faithful Navigators White Cape and Chapeau

Baldrics

United States Red, White and Blue

Protocol for Color Corps

In all ceremonies, whether within a church, other building, or out-of doors and when acting in conjunction with a group of the clergy, alter servers, societies, military units or others, it is important that the color corps commander consult with the celebrant or with those in charge of the other components, and act in conformity with them. If a master of ceremonies or marshal is in charge, his suggestions shall be followed although it may deviate from the suggested procedures outlined herein.

Silent Commands

Reference is made in this section to "visual commands" Due to the necessity for silence, particularly during a drill participation in church, silent "cues" must be used by the drill commander to instruct members and to give commands.

Jewels

When a Fourth Degree member attends an official function of the Order where Fourth Degree dress is required, he may wear the jewel of his office around his neck, be it Fourth Degree or Third Degree, together with the Social Baldric.
The 4th Degree member (WILL NOT WEAR HIS JEWELS OF OFFICE WITH HIS REGALIA)
Only the 4th Degree emblem will be worn.  All member will be the same dress, pins or no pins.
Vice Supreme master George L Mallison orders.